Border agents placed on leave after shooting of Alex Pretti

Border agents placed on leave after fatal shooting of Alex Pretti

Two US Customs and Border Protection agents involved in the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti have been placed on administrative leave, authorities confirmed, as political pressure mounts over the killing of the 37-year-old Minneapolis intensive care nurse.

Pretti was shot dead during a confrontation with federal agents on Saturday, triggering protests across Minnesota and renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. A preliminary Department of Homeland Security report sent to Congress says two agents fired their weapons during a physical struggle, after one officer shouted that Pretti had a gun.

That account differs from earlier statements by administration officials, who initially said agents fired “defensive shots” after Pretti brandished a weapon. Video reviewed by BBC Verify shows no visible gun in Pretti’s hand at the moment he was shot.

CBP said the agents were removed from duty in line with standard protocol while the incident is investigated, though officials have not said when the leave began or how long it will last. As recently as Sunday, a senior CBP commander said the agents were still working, albeit reassigned to another city.

The shooting has intensified political tensions in Minneapolis, where DHS has deployed agents under “Operation Metro Surge,” a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign launched in December. President Donald Trump has vowed to press ahead with the operation, even as city leaders refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Trump clashed publicly this week with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, warning he was “playing with fire” after Frey reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal authorities had arrested 16 people accused of assaulting officers during recent unrest, with more arrests expected.

The fallout has spread to Washington, where lawmakers from both parties are calling for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to step down. Senior House Democrats warned they could pursue impeachment proceedings unless she resigns, while others have floated cutting DHS funding ahead of a looming government shutdown deadline.

key takeaways

• Two border agents involved in Pretti’s killing have been placed on leave

• Official accounts have shifted, with video contradicting claims Pretti brandished a gun

• Political pressure is escalating, with impeachment threats and funding cuts now in play

SOURCE: MSN BBC